Hi,

Just back from a packed MEN Arena-amazingly The Pistols made it a genuine sell-out,hah-hah!

At 9.30pm they marched on to the strains of Dame Vera Lynn assuring us that "There'll Always Be An England",plugged in,took a swig of lager and after John said good-evening and then denounced the Labour government for "...taking this country to war...", away we went-straight into the blitzkreig of "Pretty Vacant".

Steve Jones nailed just about everything guitar-wise-the only dodgy bit came at the encore of "Anarchy...",and that was a momentary lapse.He was also very,very loud.
It was a little disturbing to see Mr. Cook wearing drummer's mits-that's a little bit too 'Ticco Torres' for me!
The boy Matlock played just fine-he is the 70%-er of the band.

Which brings me to Mr. Lydon.It is bizarre when you see people who you've previously seen only on TV do their thing in-the-flesh.For example after seeing Jagger fairly close at the O2 shows I couldn't help thinking "...bloody hell,he really does move,look,talk like that!".
Exactly the same thing with JL:the staccato struuting around,jumping from side-to-side,the PIL warble...all present!

He can sound like an instrument of torture at times,but equally he can make you think "...that is exactly how he did it all those years ago-and I've just heard it!".
In between songs,when he wasn't slagging himself,the band or the crowd off (all good-natured and reciprocated too),Lydon was self-medicating using a cocktail of water,throat-spray,Carling and a half-bottle of Bells.

They played for 70 minutes (let's face it,they only did one album) during which time virtually the whole arena stood,and although there was the odd flat-spot,the high-points more than compensated.There was even a determined stage-invader towards the end.

Glad I went.Right here are a few...



















Cheers,

Si.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-18 10:41 by SimonN.

Thanks for review and pics, Simon

looks like you had the same vantage point as we did for the first 02 show!

glad to hear the report and pics. i am waiting for them to come to the US - i even joined the mailing list...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-18 07:46 by little queenie.

thanx simon; what a great review and fabulous pix.

Hi,

Thanks for the kind words chaps!

Hello to LQ-I hope you're keeping in rude health too-I wasn't quite as close as we were for the 2nd O2 show,hah-hah-hah!

Yep,I would recommend an evening in the noisy company of The Pistols...if possible,see them as close as you dare in a smaller venue-the same rules for any show I suppose,heh-heh!

All the best,

Si.

ps I know about the Law Of Diminishing Returns but here are the dregs from last night!

By the way,Alice Cooper plays the same venue tonight...I suppose The Pistols are in the same vein,just with a greatly reduced special effects budget,hah-hah!

All those years ago didn't John Lydon mime along to an Alice Cooper song that was on McLaren's jukebox to audition for The Pistols?

That must complete the circle now!

















While we're here,has anyone got a spare for Bruce at the O2?Oh well,thought I'd ask anyway,heh-heh!

Great gig last night!The guys sounded just perfect.The music sounds just as strong and powerful 30 years later.Thanks foR the pics.It was my sons second gig,the first being OUR Superheroes in Boston.

Thanks fer postin. Lurvly pix.

SimonN Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The boy Matlock played just fine-he is the 70%-er
> of the band.
>

explain? (I get the Tico Torres reference.)

Hi cc,

If somebody is described as a "70%-er",it means they are steady and consistent,which is how Glen Matlock played.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Si.

great photos and review Simon,
thanks for sharing

SimonN Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If somebody is described as a "70%-er",it means
> they are steady and consistent,which is how Glen
> Matlock played.

thanks Simon--and for the news and pics!

This show's up on dime now.

<<They played for 70 minutes (let's face it,they only did one album)>>

The uploader said John had some throat problems. That might have something to do with it



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-20 02:16 by Sohoe.

Will they ever do an actual tour?

CrazyDadda Wrote:

> Will they ever do an actual tour?

Has me wondering too, if only because they appeared
on American talk shows before starting a string
of U.K. dates.